Surname Kerryn - Meaning and Origin

Kerryn: What does the surname Kerryn mean?

Kerryn is a surname of Irish origin. According to Houseofnames.com, the name typically derives from the Irish Gaelic Ceirin, a form of the name Ciarán, meaning ‘little dark one.’ Historically, it was used as a nickname for individuals of dark or swarthy complexion.

Kerryn is thought to have been introduced to Ireland during the Anglo-Norman invasion of 1170, and is a derivation of the personal name Ciar. It is believed that it was brought to the area by early settlers and was initially used to distinguish dark-haired individuals in the area. Additionally, some believe that the name likely derived from the Old Irish ciaróc, meaning ‘dark’ or ‘black.’

It continues to be a fairly common surname in Ireland to this day, however, there are more variations of the spelling including Kieran, Kieron, Kieren, Keiran, Kiaran, Ciaran and others.

Kerryn is typically a surname used to denote individuals of dark or swarthy complexion, likely deriving from the Old Irish ciaróc, meaning ‘dark’ or ‘black.’ It was first introduced to Ireland during the Anglo-Norman invasion of 1170 and remains a relatively common surname today, with variations in spelling.

Kerryn: Where does the name Kerryn come from?

The surname Kerryn is right now most commonly seen in modern day Australia. According to data from the census, in 2016 Kerryn was the 15,739th most common surname in Australia, with approximately 355 people sharing this name. Within Australia, Victoria had the highest number of Kerryns, with Western Australia having the second highest population of people with this name.

The name Kerryn is also present in numerous other countries like South Africa, Ireland, Canada and the United States. It is especially seen in South Africa, where it is one of the more popular surnames. It is the 859th most common name there, with around 2143 people bearing this name in the most recent census.

When looking at the origins of the surname Kerryn, researchers believe it to be derived from the Irish name O'Montgomery, which could be translated to ‘Descendant of Montgomery’. It is thought to have become popular in the Middle Ages, when a runner from the O’Montgomery family won the Kerryn's race. This in turn gave the family and their descendants the new surname.

Today, the name Kerryn is still a relatively common surname, especially in the country of its origin, Ireland. That said, the highest concentration of people bearing this name is found in modern day Australia.

Variations of the surname Kerryn

Kerryn is a surname derived from the Irish Gaelic “Ciarán”. This name means “black”, and is used as both a personal name and a surname. As a surname, Kerryn can be found in several variants, spellings and even other surnames of the same origin.

The most common variant of Kerryn is Kerin, which is pronounced the same way (“Ker-RIEN”). Depending on dialect and the individual’s origin, Kerin can also be pronounced as “KEER-in”. Other variations include Karren, Keren, Carrion, Kerron, Kerown, Kern, Kernan, and Kerrin.

Additionally, there are other surnames that share the same origin as Kerryn and Kerin such as O’Carroll, O’Carriga, Kerrigan, Carragan, O’Kerin and Karagan. Additionally, the Irish surname MacCiaran, and the Scottish surname MacKeran are connected to Kerryn.

Despite the surnames mentioned and their related spellings, Kerryn is still seen as a unique identifier in most Irish cultures and among the Irish diaspora. This surname is linked to being of a strong lineage and mostly Irish heritage, which serves as an important part of personal identity for the individuals who carry it.

Famous people with the name Kerryn

• Kerryn Phelps: Australian Politician and former President of the Australian Medical Association
• Kerryn McEwan: Australian Actress
• Kerryn McCann: Retired marathon runner and two-time world champion
• Kerryn Tolhurst: Australian Country and folk musician
• Kerryn Feldschmidt: Rave culture journalist
• Kerryn Fields: Professional snowboarder and former member of Australian Olympic team
• Kerryn Johnson: Former Randwick City mayor
• Kerryn Palmer: British jazz singer
• Kerryn Pratt: Former Australian rules footballer and current coach
• Kerryn Redpath: Makeup artist and hairstylist
• Kerryn Young: New Zealand actress and presenter

Other surnames

Kerry